Super 14 Team of the semis

It's an all-SA Super 14 Final on Saturday, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Bulls and Stormers dominate our team of the semis!

It's an all-South African Super 14 Final on Saturday, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Bulls and Stormers dominate our team of the semis!

OK, perhaps a little bit… in fact, eight Bulls is actually quite a lot. We take it back!

But at least there's room for the clinical Stormers who booked their first-ever Super Rugby final with a win over the Waratahs, while the Crusaders did enough in their loss in Soweto to earn a few places in this week's XV.

15 Zane Kirchner (Bulls): He has size, pace and read the game naturally in his second Super 14 semi-final for the Bulls. His try was the perfect tonic needed to boost the Bulls' drive towards a place in the Final.

14 Sean Maitland (Crusaders): One of the harder working players in the Crusaders back-line, and capped a brilliant season off with another solid performance.

13 Jaque Fourie (Stormers): He never looks like he's doing much when he gets the ball, but perhaps that's the disadvantage for those watching on TV.

12 Juan de Jongh (Stormers): His try alone was a gem to watch, but it was De Jongh's all-round play – his defence especially – that earns him a place next to his midfield partner.

11 Francois Hougaard (Bulls): The men from Christchurch won't forget this chap's name for a long, long time. A constant thorn in the Crusaders' side.

10 Morn̩ Steyn (Bulls): Steyn was at his usual best for the Bulls, pulling all the strings and kicking all the goals Рwell, he missed just one out of nine attempts! Special mention to Peter Grant for his 20 points for the Stormers.

9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls): Du Preez had floated purposefully all evening, and then stung when it most mattered. The Bulls vice-captain underlined his brilliance when he broke blind around an unguarded scrum to score a crucial try for his team.

8 Pierre Spies (Bulls): Was all over the Orlando Stadium pitch, demonstrating the searing pace and tackle-busting brilliance that propelled him to international recognition.

7 Richie McCaw (Crusaders): Soldiered on throughout the match, and never gave up hope of springing an upset. His try from close-range put his team in with a shout, but McCaw couldn't do it alone and needed a bit more help on the night…

6 Schalk Burger (Stormers): Led by example, and his big defensive hits kept coming to the delight of the locals. Burger now has a chance to be only the second South African skipper to lift the Super 14 trophy.

5 Victor Matfield (Bulls): The only South African captain to have lifted the Super 14 trophy – twice – once again did his Bulls supporters proud. He's really saving his best for last in this competition.

4 Brad Thorn (Crusaders): Another Crusader who can give himself a pat in the back for trying. The oldest player on the field, Thorn's experience wasn't enough to see his side home.

3 Werner Kruger (Bulls): A gnarly man-mountain of a tighthead prop who didn't take a step back to no-one in Soweto.

2 Ti'i Paulo (Crusaders): Was very effective in open play against the Bulls, while executing the core duties consistently well and was never far from the contact point.

1 Gurthr̦ Steenkamp (Bulls): Commanded the number one jersey like a Bulls titan Рthis big fella is in the form of his life.

Previous selections:

Round One: 15 James O'Connor (Force), 14 Lionel Mapoe (Cheetahs), 13 Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Morne Steyn (Bulls), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), 7 Tanerau Latimer (Chiefs), 6 Deon Stegmann (Bulls), 5 Tom Donnelly (Highlanders), 4 Danie Rossouw (Bulls), 3 Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), 2 Aled de Malmanche (Chiefs), 1 Guthro Steenkamp (Bulls).

Round Two: 15 Paul Williams (Blues), 14 Tamati Ellison (Hurricanes), 13 Richard Kahui (Chiefs), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Quade Cooper (Reds), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), 7 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 6 Rocky Elsom (Brumbies), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Flip van der Merwe (Bulls), 3 Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), 2 Jason Rutledge (Highlanders), 1 Heinke van der Merwe (Lions).

Round Three: 15 Cory Jane (Hurricanes), 14 Leila Masaga (Chiefs), 13 Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies), 12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls), 11 Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 10 Morne Steyn (Bulls), 9 Luke Burgess (Waratahs), 8 Thomas Waldrom (Crusaders), 7 George Smith (Brumbies), 6 Jerome Kaino (Blues), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 De Kock Steenkamp (Stormers), 3 Laurie Weeks (Reds), 2 Andrew Hore (Hurricanes), 1 Jamie Mackintosh (Highlanders).

Round Four: 15 Luke Morahan (Reds), 14 David Smith (Hurricanes), 13 Robert Fruean (Crusaders), 12 Meyer Bosman (Cheetahs), 11 Bryan Habana (Stormers), 10 Dan Carter (Crusaders), 9 Will Genia (Reds), 8 Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), 7 Daniel Braid (Reds), 6 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Nico Breedt (Cheetahs), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), 1 Ben Alexander (Brumbies).

Round Five: 15 Israel Dagg (Highlanders), 14 Sireli Naqelevuki (Stormers), 13 Jaque Fourie (Stormers), 12 Berrick Barnes (Waratahs), 11 Drew Mitchell (Waratahs), 10 Quade Cooper (Reds), 9 Kahn Fotuali'i (Crusaders), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Phil Waugh (Waratahs), 6 Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Dean Mumm (Waratahs), 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Gary Botha (Bulls), 1 Ben Alexander (Brumbies).

Round Six: 15 Israel Dagg (Highlanders), 14 Joe Rokocoko (Blues), 13 Rene Ranger (Blues), 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), 11 Drew Mitchell (Waratahs), 10 Matt Giteau (Brumbies), 9 Ruan Pienaar (Sharks), 8 Thomas Waldrom (Crusaders), 7 Matt Hodgson (Western Force), 6 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 5 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 4 Michael Paterson (Hurricanes), 3 Brok Harris (Stormers), 2 Gary Botha (Bulls), 1 John Smit (Sharks).

Round Seven: 15 Israel Dagg (Highlanders), 14 Lachie Turner (Waratahs), 13 Digby Ioane (Reds), 12 Matt Giteau (Brumbies), 11 Julian Huxley (Brumbies), 10 Daniel Halangahu (Waratahs), 9 Ruan Pienaar (Sharks), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Victor Vito (Hurricanes), 6 Jacques Botes (Sharks), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4 Dean Mumm (Waratahs), 3 WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (Bulls).

Round Eight: 15 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs): 14 Joe Rokocoko (Blues), 13 Will Chambers (Reds), 12 Stephen Donald (Chiefs), 11 Digby Ioane (Reds), 10 Mike Delany (Chiefs), 9 Brendon Leonard (Chiefs), 8 Matt Hodgson (Force), 7 Jerome Kaino (Blues), 6 Jacques Botes (Sharks), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Force), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks), 3 Al Baxter (Waratahs), 2 Keven Mealamu (Blues), 1 Charlie Faumuina (Blues).

Round Nine: 15 Peter Hynes (Reds), 14 Joe Rokocoko (Blues), 13 Jaque Fourie (Stormers), 12 Matt Giteau (Brumbies), 11 Rod Davies (Reds), 10